Arsenal named the 'most intimidating' fanbase in English football as surprise top five revealed by fan poll

Arsenal have been named by young supporters as the ‘most intimidating’ fanbase in the English football.

A study by BonusCodeBets.co.uk examined which fanbases British supporters considered the most intimidating, and the response was surprising.

While more than a quarter of Brits say Millwall have the scariest supporters, with 49 per cent of respondents aged 55 and over considering them the most intimidating fanbase, the south-east Londoner’s reputation has not passed down the generations.

Indeed, those aged 18 to 24 were instead most frightened by Arsenal’s following, with 28 per cent of that demographic selecting the Gunners as the scariest club in English football, four times more than Millwall’s seven per cent.

Younger fans are also intimidated by the fanbases of Manchester City and Liverpool, with each club garnering 27 per cent and 26 per cent of the vote respectively.

Manchester United are said to have the fourth most intimidating fan base for a younger audience (23 per cent) while Chelsea fans round off the top five at 21 per cent.

The survey also took note of which club respondents supported. Arsenal fans are the only group of supporters to consider their own team to be the scariest.

Meanwhile, the historical rivalry between United and Liverpool has continued off the field, with both sets of supporters having voted the other as the most intimidating.

Some 30 per cent of United supporters voted the Anfield club’s fans as the most intimidating while 26 per cent of Liverpool supporters selected fans of the Old Trafford club.

The study also quizzed those surveyed on who they felt was the most intimidating player of all time, with Vinnie Jones topping the list with 18 per cent of the vote.

Jones received more than double the vote of second-placed former United captain, Roy Keane.

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Topics: Arsenal, Chelsea, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Millwall, Fan Reactions

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.